Inside A Rally For The Cop Who Shot Michael Brown - HuffPo [View all]

[WillyT]

Darren Wilson Supporters Rally To Bash Media, Ferguson Protesters
Matt Sledge - HuffPO
Posted: 08/23/2014 5:39 pm EDT Updated: 1 hour ago

<snip>

ST. LOUIS -- Wearing a Bushnell camo hat, Jeremy Arnold held up a black poster with a single blue line taped across it to show his support for Darren Wilson and other police officers.

As for the man he shot to death? Michael Brown, Arnold said, "got exactly what he deserved."

Arnold said he traveled from Fairview Heights, Illinois, for the Wilson event at Barney's Sports Pub here on Saturday. It was a public unveiling of sorts for the Support Darren Wilson Facebook page, which has garnered thousands of online followers and helped raise more than $200,000 for the Ferguson police officer. Not all of the dozens gathered at the pub shared sentiments as blunt as Arnold's. But they did seem united in the sense that Wilson, not Brown, is the real victim.

Wilson's supporters also agreed that the media is a perpetrator. Between chowing on free hot dogs and drinking beers -- with a DJ playing Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" adding to the party atmosphere -- few seemed to stop talking about the ways Wilson has been misrepresented and maligned.

"It takes two sides to every story, and I think he has gotten such a bad rap," said Sharon, one of the many people who only offered to give a first name or no name at all.

"Sharon Stone," a friend quipped, before hurriedly leading her away with the admonition that she shouldn't talk to reporters, because they "twist your words around."

A 12-person grand jury began considering whether to indict Wilson for his role in Brown's death on Wednesday. Some supporters expressed sympathy for Brown's family, but few seemed to think that the dead 18-year-old should be spared the rush to judgment they insist is happening to Officer Wilson.

Sharon said Wilson "looks like a decent guy." Another supporter, Gary Enochs, said Wilson has been "crucified" by the "black community." A third attendee, Michael Smith, said Wilson "was just protecting his life like any of us would do."

<snip>

More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/23/darren-wilson-supporters_n_5703055.html